Healthy Waterways and SEQ Catchments are joining forces to form a single entity with a common purpose:

“To provide the preeminent services in South East Queensland for understanding and communicating about waterways and the natural assets that support them, and for connecting science, community and management to influence and deliver on-ground outcomes that address risks and secure SEQ’s waterways and natural assets”.

The transition into a new entity is now underway, but still in the very early stages.

A list of Frequently Asked Questions has been developed by Healthy Waterways and SEQ Catchments to keep our stakeholders up-to-date throughout the transition. We have provided as much detail as there is to hand at the moment, and will continue to update the FAQs as more information becomes available.

If you have a question that has not been addressed, please let us know:

If you would like to discuss any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us:

Julie McLellan
Chief Executive Officer
[email protected]

Simon Warner
Chief Executive Officer
[email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why are Healthy Waterways and SEQ Catchments forming a new organisation?

In an external environment where securing funding is becoming increasingly difficult, establishing one organisation will allow us to leverage more from what is available to achieve the best outcomes, both for South East Queensland’s waterways and natural assets, as well as our members and the community. Importantly, both organisations deal with the same stakeholders seeking water and landscape outcomes and coming together makes sense.

While each organisation has a clear focus and different areas of expertise, there are many complimentary and common areas of services and activities to achieve healthy waterways and healthy catchments.

Combining our expertise and resources will add value and strengthen our efforts in understanding, communicating and managing natural assets and waterways, and enhance the delivery of on-ground outcomes.

2. What are the benefits of Healthy Waterways and SEQ Catchments forming a single entity?

A single entity will enhance our focus and delivery on outcomes, and facilitate a coordinated and holistic approach to the many water and natural asset challenges facing the region now and into the future.

By coming together, we will strengthen our position to deliver and support stakeholder expectations, including the Resilient Rivers Initiative.

Together we have the capacity to leverage from our combined expertise, particularly in measuring and improving waterway health and terrestrial and coastal expertise, and applying this to other areas of natural asset monitoring and delivery

The new entity will have the capacity to engage with, and mobilise over 50,000 volunteers in South East Queensland to inform, support and deliver demonstrable community change and on-ground outcomes.

3. What is the vision, purpose and focus of the new organisation?

The purpose of the new entity is “Providing the preeminent services in SEQ for understanding and communicating about waterways and the natural assets that support them, and for connecting science, community and management to influence and deliver on-ground outcomes that address risks and secure SEQ’s waterways and natural assets”.

The new entity will focus on all of the region’s natural assets, with waterway and catchment health remaining key priorities. The organisation will continue to deliver on stakeholder priorities as a primary focus and provide independent and authoritative science.

4. Will the new organisation be a Regional NRM body?

Yes. It will carry on the commitments that SEQ Catchments has in this regard.

5. Will the new organisation be a not-for-profit, charitable organisation?

Yes. The new organisation will be a non-government, non-statutory entity with the governance structure to be agreed over the coming months.

6. When will the new organisation be formed?

Subject to final approval by the shareholders/members of each organisation, we aim to have the new entity established by 1 July 2016. It is likely, however, that both Healthy Waterways and SEQ Catchments will need to continue operating post July 2016 while the transition is finalised and continuing contracts and programs are still being transitioned.

7. What will the new organisation be called?

Over the next few months, the Implementation Working Group will suggest a name for the new entity. It will need to be decided by 1 July 2016.

It is expected that the Board of the new entity will want to develop both a branding strategy and new strategic plan.

We expect the new identity will contain elements of both the existing organisations, and will continue to focus attention on the fact that what happens on the land and catchments far upstream ultimately impacts on waterways, plants and animals downstream and in Moreton Bay.

8. How will this affect the current day-to-day operations at the two companies?

There will be minimal impact on the day-to-day operations during the transition,. Both organisations will continue to operate on a ‘business as usual’ basis, with continued projects and service delivery for our members for the 2015/16 financial year. As the structure for the new entity becomes established, we will begin to integrate activities in areas that will help grow the combined entity.

9. Will any existing programs / projects / services be affected?

Existing contracts, projects and services will continue to operate while the two organisations transition on a business as usual basis.

Once the new entity is in place new contracts will be with the new entity and it will be decided if and when existing contracts are better moved to the new entity or work themselves out in the existing entities name.

10. Will the services provided to HWL members/owners change?

HWL Members’ priorities will remain a key focus of the new organisation. We intend that the joining of resources and expertise will offer exciting opportunities and provide additional value to all stakeholders.

11. Will the ownership change?

Both organisations will work closely with their respective owners to ensure the transition of ownership is as smooth as possible.

12. Who was consulted in the decision for Healthy Waterways and SEQ Catchments to become one organisation?

Both Boards discussed the matter widely with their owners and members and other stakeholder were also instrumental in supporting the decision.

All stakeholders are very aware of the changes to the NRM environment and especially the changes to the amount and requirements of funding partners. Both organisations have been working for some time to build a portfolio of activities and expertise that generates revenue from new funding partners, as well as striving to ensure that existing stakeholders are aware of the value that the entities provide.

13. Who is leading the establishment of the new organisation?

A small Working Group, selected by the Boards of both organisations, has been established to develop and build a transition plan to form the new entity.

The Working Group met for the first time on 27 January 2016 and will continue to meet fortnightly.

14. When will there be more information available?

Both Healthy Waterways and SEQ Catchments will continue to work closely with our clients and members throughout this process. We will provide stakeholders and the broader public (where appropriate) with timeframes and further details as they become available.

15. How will the new entity be funded?

The new entity will need to be capable of responding to the new environment where traditional sources of funding for environmental and NRM activity have been reducing and new and innovative approaches required. Members, owners and clients will want to see value for their investment.

16. What will be the ownership structure of the new organisation?

The ownership structure is yet to be determined but it will need to take into consideration the existing stakeholders expectations

17. What will the organisational and governance structure look like?

This is yet to be determined but it will need to take into consideration the existing stakeholders expectations

18. Who will be able to appoint Directors to the new entity’s Board?

The appointment of Directors will be decided by the owners of the new entity but will need to take into consideration existing stakeholders expectations.

19. Will the community have strategic input into the new organisation comparable to what they have today?

Yes.

20. How will the new entity ensure that the focus will remain on water quality if it is now a bigger organisation with much wider responsibilities?

Water Quality is an important matter to both organisations at present so we do not see any reduction in its focus.